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Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has been handed a suspended one-match ban by UEFA following an incident during his side’s Champions League clash against Bayern Munich last month. The European football governing body ruled that Rodgers played a role in delaying the kick-off of the second-leg match in Germany on February 18.
Rodgers, 52, will only serve the ban if he commits a similar offense within the next 12 months, as UEFA places him under probation. In addition to the managerial sanction, Celtic have been fined £8,345 for the delay.
The dramatic encounter at the Allianz Arena saw Celtic come agonizingly close to forcing extra time against the German giants, only for Alphonso Davies to net a stoppage-time goal that sealed Bayern’s progression to the quarter-finals. The Scottish side had already faced an uphill battle after a narrow 1-0 defeat at home, but their spirited away performance nearly produced a huge upset before Davies’ late strike ended their European hopes.
Further disciplinary actions have also been taken by UEFA for incidents from both legs of the tie. Celtic were hit with a separate £7,500 fine due to supporters blocking passageways during the first leg at Parkhead. Meanwhile, Bayern Munich have been fined £25,000 for displaying an inappropriate message at the same match.
Despite Celtic’s elimination, their impressive performance in Munich provided a memorable European night, though it came with financial and disciplinary repercussions.
Featured Image Credit: Pixabay / NewUnion_org, Pixabay / jorono
